Page 76 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

Her face was animated, and she was deep in conversation, but I saw right through it. Lily was putting on an act. There was absolutely nothing in her eyes. It was like she was already dead and gone, and what I was looking at was just a zombie. Lily was literally a shell of herself.

Dinner was strained. Sure, conversations flowed, but all I could think about was how hollow she seemed to be. When Timothy was in bed, and Anya had left, she rushed off to her bedroom.

“Lily, wait.” Calling after her I caught up with her on the stairs. “Can we talk?”

“Of course. I’d like that.” She nodded, but there was no emotion in her voice. She was just saying what she thought I wanted to hear, and it was driving me crazy. I fought back the urge to tell her that, to shout at her until she yelled right back because I’d take her being angry with me over this weird emptiness in her eyes.

“Let’s go to your room, where it’s more private.”

She trembled:

“Not like that, Lily,” I said quickly. I might not know exactly what had happened to her, but I could guess, and even an asshole like me would not force that on her until she was ready.

“You know I would never—”

She cut me off. “You don’t want to?” She asked in an accusing whisper. “You think I’m damaged goods now?”

“I don’t think any such thing. Do not put words in my mouth, Lily. I am trying to be a gentleman and give you the space you need. But don’t think for a second that means I don’t ache for you, because I do.”

For a second, her eyes softened. “I’m not ready for that. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.” Tears flooded her eyes and wet her cheeks. Turning away from me, she ran up the stairs. I chased after her. Catching her around the waist, I pulled her into my arms and crushed her against my chest.

Lily fought back for ten whole seconds, her small fists hitting me in the chest, but I didn’t loosen my grip.

“I’m so broken, Daniil.” Limp in my arms, she sobbed into my chest. “I’m broken, and no amount of patience will put me back together.”

Up and down her too-slim back my hand moved as I tried to soothe her. “You are not broken, Lily,” I whispered into her ear. “You’re not, but I know you need to heal, and that’s why I’m not going to let you lock yourself away.” Holding her out at arm’s length, I stared down into her eyes. “I won’t let you lock me out either. I need you. And I’ll wait a million years for you if that’s what it takes.”

She blinked blearily up at me. “You could have anyone you wanted. You could have your pick of women.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her, even though I hated this new, unsure of herself, Lily.

“The only woman I want is you, Lily. Now, would you like to sit on the bed alone while we talk, or can I sit with you?”

She stared at me for a full minute before making her decision. “We can sit together.”

Again, she was saying just what she thought I wanted to hear without any real emotion in her voice. Taking up a seat next to her, I took her hand and entwined our fingers. She didn’t close her fingers around mine, and I fought the urge to scream.

“I want you to know that,” I took a deep breath, “I am hunting down all the people who hurt you.”

Lily’s head snapped around. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” I said evenly. “That anyone who had a hand in your kidnapping and imprisonment,” I purposely didn’t say abuse, “will pay for it. There are certain people whom I haven’t tracked down yet. But I will, and until then, I will never leave you unprotected.”

She closed her eyes, taking several long deep breaths. “Piotre and—”

“His brother Dominik. And Greg,” I said softly, hating the way her face paled. I squeezed her hand. “But I will find them, Lily, because I want you to be able to live your life safe in the knowledge that they will never hurt you again.”

My thumb brushed back and forth against the back of her hand. “I want you to be able to leave here and feel safe.”

Her head jolted up. “You want me to leave?”

“No.” I shook my head rapidly. “No, I don’t mean leave me. I don’t want that.”

“Ok.” Her voice shook a little. “So our arrangement still stands?”

My eyebrows shot up. Without thinking, I cupped her face in my hands and brushed my lips against hers over and over again, and she kissed me back, tentatively at first, and then her lips parted.

I melted into her mouth. Savoring the taste of her lips after so long. And God, she tasted and felt amazing. It was almost like old times.